The sweet spot

Beautiful Louisiana sunset.

I am sure you have noticed that there are a few things you are really good at.  Those things took very little effort and time to get to the mastery level.  Then there are things that no matter how hard you work at it, it never gets easy, it doesn’t feel right, and it’s just a constant struggle to keep it going.

I believe while admirable, and important as it is to stretch into doing new things, we need to concentrate on our own little sweet spot.  That area is where we can work from and feel good and accomplished, it’s good for our mental wellbeing.  Staying in that sweet spot gives us the boost we need to go kick some butt in the world every day!  It sure is hard to go all out every day being productive when you feel less than confident at the task you are trying to accomplish.

For me, machining came very easily.  The CAD software, machine programming, the physics of how the tool and workpiece interact, the thermodynamics of the process, all that came super easily to me early on.  I found my sweet spot at 19 years old and have stayed with it for the past 22 years.  For most of that time I have been chugging along, living life, being successful, but at the same time, scared to step out, afraid of change and something new.

All of that changed last year.  Last year had some big pivotal moments for me.  My eyes were opened to the reality, that more than one sweet spot exists in my life, I just have to go after it.  I realized that the space I clung to all those years can become a prison if you let it, and I definitely had.  Losing my oldest son right after that epiphany further encouraged me to not let the opportunities of life pass me by. 

I realize it seems as though I am contradicting the first paragraph of this post, but I’m not.  I am not saying to abandon your current happy place to go find another one.  That is what I always thought was required to make changes.  The reality is that we can test the waters out there and find something else without abandoning our current life.  It will take time and work, but it is 100% possible.

I started my product design business without any real knowledge of how to set it up and run it.  The past year has been a year of learning, striving, and trusting.  It is still a work in progress, but that’s ok because I didn’t give up my original sweet spot.  I started writing this blog when I didn’t even know what a blog was.  I was simply trusting the nudge and the opportunity that was in front of me, and honestly, it has been one of the best decisions of my life to be vulnerable with the world and not sit in fear of being rejected.  I have had a hater or two, but the way I see it is that I am doing something worthwhile. 

Ephesians 3: 14-21

14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

To me, I see this passage as how we need to go through life.  We need to trust in the gifts that God has given each and every one of us.  I still have to work on always leaning on him instead of myself, but that is just part of the growth in our lives.

This week, look to expand out of your safe sweet spot and start looking for new an exciting ones.  Just don’t burn the bridges as you go.